Chrysopelea paradisi- The Paradise Tree Snake

Interactions

Living in the rainforests of Malaysia and deciduous forests of Thailand puts
the Paradise Tree snake in contact with many other organisms. In Malaysia,
coconut palms are the most prevent tree species and often serve
as a good home or hunting spot for C. paradisi.

As a carnivore, C. paradisi comes in
contact with various species of prey animals, including bats,
lizards, birds, small rodents, and frogs. Although C.
paradisi prefers lizard species such as the Tokay gecko or
House geckos, the snake will consume whatever it can catch.
Lesser sheath-tailed bats are common in areas such as
Singapore
and their small size (5.5 grams) earns them, a long with other
small bat species, a place on the paradise tree snake menu.

Paradise Tree snakes, because of their prey
choice, are considered secondary and tertiary consumers. This is
because they feed on either organisms that feed on plant matter
(primary consumers) or organisms that feed on the primary
consumer. This puts them in a position to act
as a type a environmental mediator; making the paradise tree
snake is extremely useful in controlling prey populations. On
another note, the snake is an important prey species that keeps
other species higher up on the food chain healthy.

Although not to much is known about what
feeds on them, it is theorized that their small size and
generally nontoxic venom allows them to be preyed upon by
predatory bird species, larger mammals such as monkeys, and even
larger snake species, such as the King Cobra. In some cases,
when domestic cats have been kept for pets,
cats have been known
to consume an unlucky snake. The biggest threat to the snake is
us. Increased human habitation of this region increases
pollution and deforestation, killing off the habit C.
paradisi calls home. Thanks to human pressure, the snake is
rare in some areas of its natural range.

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